Start Your Thinking Engines---Using the Internet to Teach the Cold War

I'm having a wonderful time taking a class on how to use the Internet to teach the Cold War.  First because I don't know much about the Cold War.  But also because the instructor, Tom Daccord, has started us off with a treasure chest of resources that will be well suited for the work I'm doing with my district's social studies curriculum writing committee.  Mr. Daccord's website has been a fabulous resource to me already in other projects which is why I was willing to pay to take this class without knowing much about him. I think my money has been well invested even if I don't learn anything else because he has directed us to a way of thinking about how to use technology with essential questions and dividing up tasks in such a way that will more meaningful for students.

My first assignment is to create a one night assignment that utilizes 1 or 2 text based sources for my students.  My biggest problem is that there is so much from which to pick.  I'm learning as I go and I'm trying to get the big picture of the Cold War in my head so I can ask good questions.  One of the neatest resources is the CNN repository of Cold War clips, primary documents and other materials.  After just completing my assignment of reading through four episodes, I've learned more in this hour than I ever learned in school.  You'll have to take it to see for yourself all the other great ones.

I know the literature reports that most students see social studies as boring.  Well, that's why I'm taking this class and why I hope to create engaging lessons that put them in places where they have to draw conclusions, debate issues and think.  Dust off those thinking caps.  Here's to learning and growing in my use of the Internet to Teach the Cold War.  It isn't going to be boring if I can help it.